why would bashar al assad's regime f it did, make this video like this? and one expert on syria says it goes back to the very beginning when the assad regime tried to paint the opposition as control by jihadists and foreign-backed terrorists. >> the u.s. to date has been reluctant to buy into this narrative. and they have been very afraid of painting the entire opposition as an al qaeda-inspired revolt against the assad regime. however, this type of video would give credence and a grain of truth to assad's claims that there are very important extremists and jihadist elements operating within the opposition which would make any further action on behalf of the u.s. as regards to involvement in syria very difficult to make -- >> reporter: in other words, if the syrian rebels are dominated by groups that would kidnap and target americans, public opinion might sway against them and make it much harder for the americans to intervene in syria. wolf. >> all right. thanks very much, chris lawrence at the pentagon. let's hope they find this journalist and get him o